Tube-forming machine



Jan. 8,1929. 1,698,260

- H. DE SMITH TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed June 15,1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. v &@ x M A TTORNEY Jan. 8, 1929; 1,698,260

H. DE SMITH TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1927' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TIORNEY Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,698,260 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY DE SMITH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO M. D. KNOWLTON COH- PLANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TUBE-FORMING- MACHINE.

Lpplioation filed .Tune 15,

The invention relates to certain improvements intube making machines in which a continuous length of tubing is formed from superposed strips of paper or the like spirally wound upon a mandrel,=and has for one of its objects to provide machines of this character with a special form of feed device to direct the strips onto the mandrel so that the edges of the successive convolutions of each spiral or helix will be in contact, said feed device also involving two pairs of journal bearings to permit the reel from which the paper strip has been nearl exhausted to be shifted from one set of bearm gs to the other and a full reel to be mountedin the vacated journal bearings whereby the rear end of the strip of paper on the first roll may be attached to the advance end of the strip on the full roll without interrupting the operation of the machine;

the feed device also bein provided with means for heatin and drymg'the first strip before the latter 1S delivered to the mandrel, the latter, preferably, also being provided with a heating device to complete the drying of the first strip, thereby insuring the setting of the glue or cement applied to the contacting face of the next superposed strip, so that the finished tube, which may coi prise two or more superposed helical strips or layers cemented together, will be in proper condition for delivery to a cutting mechanism, in the form of one or more saws, adapted to cut the tubing into predetermined lengths; the accurate ositioning of the helical strips and the rapid setting of the glue or cement by means of which the superposed strips are secured together being necessary to insure the accurate cutting of the tubing without rag- 11'1 40 g 'I he invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a planview thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fi 4 is a partial front elevation of the man rel carryin frame.

Fig. 5 is an en elevation of the same. The invention relates to the manufacture of so-called spiral papertubes, which are formed by windingsuperposed'strips of paper upon a mandrel, the successive strips beingso applied that the edges of each helical winding are in contact and the successive strips are applied to break joints with the adjacent strips. As a rule, the first strip ap- 192 Serial N0. 198,872.

plied to the mandrel is in dry condition and the under surface of the superposed strip is coated with glue or other suitable cement to form an effective joint between the stri s when the strips are wound together on t e mandrel in superposed relation as stated, the firmly united superposed strips constituting the finished tubing. The latter may consist of two or more plies of superposed helical strips glued or cemented together, as stated, but for the purpose of exemplifying the pres.- ent invention, it is sufficient to consider a machine adapted to form two-ply tubing, consisting of two superposed helical strips which are wound upon a fixed mandrel of a standard machine partially illustrated in Fig. 2. It has been found of great advantage to associate with machines of this type, a cutting machine for severing the continuous length of formed tubing into sections of predetermined length, but considerable difficulty was experienced in making clean transverse cuts of the fresh tub ng because of the tendency of the layers or plies to separate under the action of the saws or cutters, due to the fact that the glue will not set firmly and unites the plies during the short interval between the winding of the tubing and the delivery thereof to the cutting mechanism. It has been found, however, that, by heating and drying the first or foundation stri before the same is applied to the mandrel an preferably also while it is being wound upon the man-' drel, a rapid setting of the glue on the adjacent face of the next superposed strip is insured, so that the strips will be firmly united and the completed tubing may be operated upon by the cutting mechanism without danger of the latter making ragged or'defective cuts.

It has likewise been found of advantage to -so applythe strips to the mandrel that the adjacent edges of successive convoh'itions of, the helixes are in contact, so that, when the several plies are united by, adhesion, a very me strong and durable. tubing results. These several requirements are met by the present invention, which provides means foraccurately applying the successive helical strips in superposed relation .in the manner stated and means for effectively heating and drying the first applied strip, as will be hereinafter explained.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the frame of a tube forming machine of the char- 11o the ready adjustment and substitution of the mandrel when tubes of different sizes are to be formed. This machine is of a well known ty e and need not be further described.

ivoted at one end, by a bolt 11', to the top of the machine frame 1, is a frame 10 including horizontally extending parallel rails 10, 10, which are su ported at their outboard ends by le s 11 an braces 12. Each leg 11 is provided elow the corresponding rail 10' with an open journal bearing 13 and the upper extension of each leg 11 is also provided with an open journal bearing 14, these dupl1- cate sets of journal bearings being designed to ermit a reel or spool carrying the strip WhlCll forms one of the plies of the finished tubing to be moved from one set of bearin to the other for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. Secured to one of the side rails 10 of the frame 10 is a vertical bracket 15, upon which are mounted two horizontally extending bars 19 and 20 which serve as guides and tensioning devices for the strip as the latter is delivered from the reel, and above the bars'aforesaid is mounted a swinging frame 16' carrying a weighted arm 17 upon its outer end, with a facing of leather or similar material 18 surrounding the frame and the Weighted arm to constitute a friction brake to apply the necessary tension to the strip as the atter is drawn from the reel. A second set of guide and tension bars 22 and 23 is mounted upon a bracket 21 secured to the same rail 10 as the bracket 15 aforesaid.

Between the two sets of guide and tension bars, there is mounted on the rails 10', 10 a heating device over which the strip is drawn on, its passage to the mandrel. This heating device may be of any suitable construction. As a. matter of convenience and economy, it comprises a flat plate 30 containing an electrical heating resistance, the plate being so disposed that the stri is held in contact with the surface thereo as it passes thereover.

Secured in spaced relation on the rails 10', 10 are three pairs of brackets 26, 26, each pair carrying a cross rod 27, and the intermediate pair of brackets being somewhat higher than the end pairs, so that the intermediate cross rod 27 is higher than the end cross rods. As

indicated in F i 3, the cross rods are locked in position in t e bearing brackets 26 by set screws 26'. Slidably mounted on the rods are clamps 29 adapted to engage the lateral edges of the electrical heater 30 and hold the latter in position, these clamps in turn'being engsazged and held in adjustable position on the r s by set nuts 28threaded on said rods.

By reason of the higher elevation of the middle cross rod 27, the heating plate 30 will be bowed upwardly as shown, so that the strip in passing over the surface of the heater will be held in close contact by reason of the fact that thelowertension bars 20 and 23 at opposite ends of the heater are somewhat lower than the front and rear edges of the plate 30. The adjustable clamps 29 for securin the heater in position permit the accurate a justment of the heater to the direct line of travel of the strip. Currentis supplied to the heater 30 by cord conductors 31, in which is interposed a snap switch 32 mounted on the side of the frame.

The paper strip comes in the form of a roll 40 mounted upon a reel or spool provided with a spindle 41 adapted to be engaged with either of the sets of journal bearings 13and 14 on the frame 10. In order to facilitate the mounting of a roll 40 upon the reel, the latter is rovided with a removable flange 43,

which is adapted to be locked to the spindle gs by means of a screw stud 44. The fixed weight 47, the Weight and cord constituting a friction brake to prevent the racing of the roll upon sudden stoppage of the machine.

As hereinbefore stated, it is generally desirable to continue the heating and drying of the strip constituting the first ply of the tubing applied directly to the mandrel, during the winding operation, and, to this end, the man-. drel 6 is preferably formed of hollow tubing in which is mounted a heating element 50, preferably a conventional resistance heater, ada ted to fit the bore of the tube, and the con ucting wires 51 being led out through an openin in the tubing and secured to the plug mem er 52 of a connector, the socket member 53 of which is preferably secured .to the spindle support 2 and is, in turn, connected by leads to a suitable snap switch 54, to the terminals of which are secured the supply Wires 55.

The machine as hereinbefore described is adjusted and operated as follows: The swinging frame 10, which carries the real delivering the first strip directl to the mandrel, is so adjusted that the strip is laid upon the mandrel with the edges of the successive convolutions of the strips in contact. This adjustment is effected by swinging the frame 10 about the pivot 11' until the desired position is reached. A full spool or reel is then mounted in the lower journal bearing 13 on the frame 10 and the end of thestri-p a is led glue on the superposed strip as soon as the two strips are brought into 'engagementpn the mandrel. A further heating and drying of the first strip to insure a practically instantaneous setting of the adhesive is effect- I ed by the heating of the mandrel by the heating. device 50 mounted within the latter.

As stated, it is desirable to operate the machine continuous] and this is rendered possible by the provision of the two sets of ournal hearings on the frame 10. When the roll 40 of paper'strip is nearly exhausted, the reel or s 001 carr ingthe same is removed from t e lower ournal bearings 13 to.

the upper journal bearings 14 and another reel or spool containing a full roll applied to lower journal bearings 13. To the end of the strip on the new roll, a small amount of lue is applied and, when the stri on the rst roll has been completel run 0 the end of the strip is cemented to t e end of the new strip on the full reel. without interruptingv thenormal operation of the machine.

It will be understood that the succeeding strips or plies of paper may be sup liedto the tube forming machine by any of the usual means employed for this purpose and, if desired, a supporting frame and accessories similar to that described for delivering the first ply or strip to the mandrel may be installed for suppl mg the additional p yor lies, it being understood that in such case t e supporting frame corres onding to the frame 10 will not be provide What I claim is: 1. In a machine for forming tubes from with a heating device.

including a m'andrel and means for winding the strips thereon; means for heating and drying the first stri before the same is applied to the mandre whereby cementing of the superposed strip thereto will be facili- 2. In a machine for forming tubes from superposed helical strips-of paper or the'like including a mandrel andmeans for windin the strips thereon; means for heating an before the same is apdrying the first stri plied to the mandre said means comprising a heated plate over which the strip is drawn.

3. In a machine for forming tubes from super osed helical strips of paper or the like inclu ing a mandrel and means for winding the strips thereon; means for heating and mounted inside the mandrel.

the strips thereon; means for heating and drying the first stri plied to themandre the mandrel.

5. In a machine for forming tubes from super osed helical strips of paper or the like inclu ing a mandrel and means for winding the" strips thereon; means for heating and drying the first strip before the same is applied to the mandrel, and an electrical heater before the same is ap and means for heating including a mandrel and means for winding heated plate over which the p the strips thereon; a frame pivotally con- I nected at bne' end to the mandrel support for swinging adjustment relative to the mandrel, a paper reel removably journalled on said frame, and a heating device carried by the frame between the reel and the mandrel over which plate a strip is drawn.

7. In a machine for forming tubes from superposed helical strips of paper or the like including a mandrel and means for winding the strips thereon; a frame pivotally connected at one end to-the mandrel support for swinging adjustment relative to the mandrel, a paper reel removably journalled on said frame, a heating device carried by the frame between the reel and the mandrel over which plate a strip is drawn and tension applying means carried by the frame at opposite sides of the'heating device.

- 8. In a machine for forming tubes from super osed helical strips of paper or .the like inclu ing a mandrel and means for winding the strips thereon; a frame pivotally connected at one end to the mandrel support for swinging adjustment relative to the mandrel,

I clamps and over which the strip is drawn.

9. In a machine for forming tubes from p a paper reel removably journalled on said. superposed helical strips of paper or the like f superposed helical strips of paper orthe'like including a mandrel and means for winding the strips thereon; aframe pivotally con nected at one end to the mandrel support for swinging adjustment relative to the mandrel a paper reel removably 'ournalled 'on sai frame, cross rods carried tween the reel and mandrel, clamps on said.

10. In a machine for forming tubes from by the frame besuperposed helical strips of naneror the like including a mandrel and means for winding nected at one end to the mandrel support for swinging adjustment relative to the mandrel,

a paper reel removably journalled on said frame, brackets mounted on opposite sides of the frame, cross rods secured in said brackets, clamps slidable on the cross rods, nuts on the rods to adjust the clamps, and a heating platehaving its edges engaged by said clamps.

11. In a machine for forming tubes from superposed helical strips of paper or the like including a mandrel and means for winding the strips thereon; a frame pivotally connected at one end to the mandrel support for swinging adjustment relative to the mandrel, a paper reel removably journalled on said frame, brackets mounted on opposite sides of the frame, cross rods secured in said brackets, clamps slidable on the cross rods, nuts on the rods to adjust the clam s, a heating plate having its edges engaged y said clamps, and tension applying means carried by the frame at opposite ends of the heating plate.

12. In a machine for forming tubes from superposed helical strips of paper or the like including a mandrel and means for winding the strips thereon; a frame having one end pivotally connected to the mandrel support for swinging adjustment relative to the mandrel, lower and upper sets of journal bearings on the opposite end of the frame in which the paper reel is successively mounted, whereby successive strips on following reels may be joined at their ends without interrupting the operation of the machine, and means for guidingthe strips from the reel over the frame to the mandrel under tension.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HENRY DE SMITH. 

